Quilt Show
13 Nov 2008 1 Comment
in Quilting, Sewing Tags: Quilt Show
Thought I’d share with all of you this postcard reminder I received in the mail this week. Today begins the Greater Chicago Quilt Exposition at the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois. I have gone for the past few years that is has been here and it is a nice show. Not nearly as big as the Spring show at Rosemont, but a very nice quilt show. I plan on attending on Friday with some very good friends.
For all you who LOVE to share the day with friends be sure to feast your eyes on the lovely international quilts shown here. Naturally, there is a LOT of shopping available as well.
If any of you out there have a quilt in this show, please let me know so I can be sure to look for it. Thanks!
Busy Weekend
10 Nov 2008 4 Comments
in Christmas, Friends, Gifts, Quilting Tags: Boutique, Friends, Wedding
It was a bit busy this weekend, but fun. Friday my husband and I attended a beautiful wedding of the daughter of a long time friend. It’s so nice to be together with good friends. And what a special occasion to share with one another. I recall the weddings of my three like yesterday. Here’s a little collage of the day. I feel like I renew my own vows every time I attend someone’s wedding. How romantic! I have been married for 41 years now. And I think we’ll make it for at least another 20.
Also this weekend was our quilting Holiday Boutique. It is similar to a craft fair, but everything is set up like you were in a large department store…without any vendors. Everything is marked and counted before and after the sale. As I mentioned, part of the proceeds support our quilting group…but more than anything else, it is an all day affair where we get to know one another better, have a good time, laugh and share a bit of ourselves. Everyone who attends says its the best sale of its kind anywhere.
And this lovely lady was made by a dear friend of mine who does absolutely exquisite work. She is a talented artist in all sorts of mediums. Her latest project will be a crazy quilt and I can’t wait to see it.
New Quilt for Titouan
02 Nov 2008 6 Comments
in Gifts, Quilting, Sewing Tags: Baby Quilt, English Phrases, French Friends
Maggy…my soul sister in France…has a new grandson, Titouan. I had to make something special for him. A bit of fun and a bit of the United States. So I found a fabric with lots of English words on it.
They are phrases which we hear a lot, but perhaps not so common France…but then again…maybe they are common. Can anyone of my French friends tell me if you use these phrases also? I love to learn new things. There are phrases like: See You Later Alligator or Quiet As a Mouse or A Little Bird Told Me…
Reappearing Rabbit or Monkey See Monkey Do or Leaping Leopard
Or Can A Zebra Can His Stripes?
Or Busy As A Bee
His Mom (who loved the quilt) sent me this super photo. Little Titouan doesn’t seem to care…he just loves being the center of attention. Isn’t he the most beautiful baby you have ever seen???
Wildflower Harvest Quilt Show
11 Oct 2008 5 Comments
in Inspiration, Quilting, Sewing Tags: Crazy Quilting, Silk Ribbon
This morning my friend Pat and I were able to attend the Wildflower Harvest Quilt Show which we learned about from Marjorie’s blog. There is still time…the show will be open on Sunday from 10 until 4 in Valparaiso, Indiana. It was a lovely quilt show. Lots of artistic quilts and many exciting vendors were there. One of my favorite booths was Pat Winters Gatherings. I read her blog every day and have a link on my blog to hers. I bought the most luscious hand-dyed ribbons from her and also a packet of beads to make a dragonfly. She generously included for me a spider thread and bead kit and a silk for my crazy quilting. Her booth was beautiful…so colorful with her crazy quilted purses and all of her hand-dyed ribbons. How inspiring and such fun to look at!! And there were plenty of people to share my enthusiasm. So if you have time and live nearby…please stop by to see her. She is as lovely in person as she is in writing her blog.
Here is a crazy quilt block that I began a while ago and have not completed…ahhhhh, another Work In Progress (WIP).
But I think I’ll save my new acquisitions for a brand new block.
Also want to mention that this weekend is the Sewing Exposition at Pheasant Run in St. Charles, IL. It has a lot of wonderful vendors as well.
Progress and Past
07 Oct 2008 4 Comments
in Gifts, Quilting Tags: Baby Blankets, Quilts
Here is one of the blankets I managed to complete this week…Peter Rabbit and a couple of others. The blankets are about 40 inches square and are double sided. The flannel is all prewashed and preshrunk. I have been making these and selling them as gifts for years now. It is my own design with special embroidered edges. And each one comes with a cozy stuffed animal.
I also finished a baby quilt for the grandson of a friend of mine, but I can’t put it on the blog until I get it into the mail. Don’t want to spoil the surprise.
Everyone is always worrying about all the fabric they have in their stash. I did too. So I decided to do something about it. I made an old-fashioned multi-color cat quilt. It was a Robert Callaham pattern shown in a magazine some years old. Thinking I would put a big dent in my stash, I even used scraps to create a patch
work backing for the quilt. And you know what happened…I think my stash is just as big as it was before. This lovely quilt didn’t even put a dent into my collection of fabric. I had the opportunity to display my quilt in the public library for nearly six months. It was fun.
A closeup of the cats and “fence.”
Here is the back of the quilt…..all the left over scraps from the front of the quilt.
Here is a photo of the library where the quilts were hung.
And here is a photo of some quilting friends giving a demonstration of their quilting skills at the public library.
Quilting makes such good friends and we have such a good time together! I wouldn’t trade this time with my friends for anything.
Fabulous Flannel
30 Sep 2008 2 Comments
in Quilting, Reflection, Sewing Tags: Baby Blankets, Flannel, Work in Progress
It’s been a busy week, working mostly. But I attended the funeral of a good friend who passed away from melanoma. She was only 58. I wrote a reflection on her illness and impending death on August 17th. And I have been reflecting on her life and passing often lately. Of course this leads to reflection on one’s own life as well.
But I have to get back into the groove and take care of projects. Here is a stack of fabulous flannel which will be turned into cute little blankets with stuffed bears and bunnies. I have been making these and selling them for years. I’ll post a photo when I am finished. My quilt group has a holiday boutique every year in November and a portion of the profit from the things we sell goes to our quilt group. It allows us to have wonderful guest speakers each month and to purchase fabrics for charity quilts, cancer hats and wheelchair and walker bags. So I have LOTS of work to do before the November boutique. Guess the wedding quilt will be put on hold one more time.
Off to work for the day…I hope I still have energy tonight to start this flannel project!
Grandchildren’s Quilts
23 Sep 2008 3 Comments
This past weekend two of my grandchildren came to stay with me, Noah is nearly 11 and Sophia is 6. I love to see them because soon they will grow too old for their “Nana.” Although, the children gave me a small handmade item last year to prove that will NEVER happen.
When Sophia was a baby I designed this cheerful and bright quilt for her. The white background is free-motion quilted in pink thread with lots of daisy-like flowers. It still hangs on her bedroom wall.
When Noah was just a “little guy” I made this Noah’s Ark quilt for him. It was one of the very first quilts I ever made. The animals and Noah are all done with piecing. I thought I’d never finish it. Some of the animals have corded tails that hang down and the giraffe has a 3D mane. His quilt is safely tucked away in the closet. I understand. While it served its purpose many years ago, I think Noah needs a quilt for an “older guy” now.
And last, but never least, is this twin size quilt I made for Haley who is now 8 years old. It was my first large size quilt and first appliqued quilt. The hearts are free-motion quilted with feathers in a heart motif and the background is stippled. While the colors look muted in this old photo, it is bright and cheerful as well. The border is a lovely floral with gold etchings. Her quilt has been washed often and loved much. I would like to see her have a new quilt as well.
But, alas, my last little grandson, Max, who is nearly five has never had a quilt made for him. I need to put this on my high priority list.
However, I suppose I should finish that wedding quilt that I have been working on first. Perhaps I should quit that full-time job I have and really retire. I have enough fabric in my stash to quilt at least until I am 102 years old!! Isn’t that a wonderful thought? Hmmm.
I will have to think about that. Last night I had dinner with a friend who also works full-time and she really inspires me with all the artwork she accomplishes. She is amazing; I don’t know how she does it. We had so much fun. Maybe with the economy, I’ll just work a little longer and try to fit more in to my days, like Marjorie.
“A Magical Year”
17 Sep 2008 8 Comments
in Family, Quilting Tags: Anniversary, Quilts
Blocks 1, 2 and 3
Today is my younger son’s first wedding anniversary. Mike and Michelle live in Colorado and were married in a meadow near a lovely lodge in the mountains one year ago today. I called them tonight to say “Happy Anniversary.” Both seemed to be having a fun time with friends. But I share with you something that my daughter-in-law said to me tonight … “We have just spent the most magical year of our lives.” Now you must understand that my son was in a nasty auto accident two years ago, needs back surgery soon, and I believe it must have been a very difficult year. And yet Michelle could still say they had a magical year. Mike is so lucky, and as parents we are so lucky to have her in the family.
Here are photos of the blocks I have completed so far on their “wedding quilt.” Yes, I am slow. It should have been done at least for this anniversary! Alas, it was not.
Block 4
- Block 5
Block 6
Michelle and Mike
Happy Anniversary!!
Celebrations
14 Sep 2008 3 Comments
in Applique, Family, Quilting Tags: Applique, Family, Hawaiian, Quilting
We went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for a couple of days to help celebrate the birthday of a friend. It was such a joyful celebration. The party was a kind of family reunion, where many of the family members had not seen one another for up to 15 years!
From the sidelines I watched his daughter gently holding her father’s hand and I could see the tenderness and love in their faces as they spoke quietly in the corner. It was fun to watch the joy on the faces of cousins who were together for the first time in years. The entire weekend was very uplifting. Thanks Ray for sharing your birthday with us.
It was also a “quilt fix” for me, as my friend, Judy, is a wonderful quilter. She had many projects to share…some finished…some works in progress. She inspires me to say the least. I always find fun and laughter when we are together. Sadly our time was limited to just a brief visit, but it makes me long for another visit, hopefully soon.
Today I share with you one of my works in SLOW progress…some of my Hawaiian quilt blocks. My daughter, who has a wedding anniversary today, bought me a Hawaiian quilting book on her honeymoon in Hawaii several years ago. So far I have only three blocks done. I love to do the needle turned appliqué, but I fear it will be a long time before it is complete. Her anniversary today inspired me to share this with you.
Work in Progress
23 Aug 2008 1 Comment
We like to get away to the woods and nature whenever we can. We both grew up in the city/suburbs and really appreciate the smell of the forest in the morning. Here is a photo of our home away from home. We don’t go too far with fuel prices high, but when we go now we go for a week or so and stay put. I always bring my sewing machine along and some kind of handwork, as well as a good book. That way, just in case of rain, I can always be occupied with something worthwhile. During one RV outing it rained nearly every day. We did a lot of walking and hiking with umbrellas. But that week I put together the body of what will be a tablecoth. It will 
have a wide border with appliqued flowers on all sides. I did the top, but not the applique. I actually LOVE to applique, but after the week away, I put the top into a box and there it sat for a long time. It is one of the projects I hope to finish this winter. Just another UFO on the shelf for now. I imagine that all of you needleart people out there have a few UFOs among you, no matter what is your desired medium.
